The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.

Thomas Jefferson

Read this letter at the National Archives website

More information about this quote

Topic

Freedom Political violence

Author

Thomas Jefferson

Medium

Letter

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1787 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Occupation

Founding Father American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to William Stephens Smith. 13 Nov. 1787.

Current Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. "Col. Smith, Nov. 13, 1787." The Life and Selected Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Including the Autobiography, The Declaration of Independence & His Public and Private Letters, edited by Adrienne Koch and William Peden. Modern Library, 1998.

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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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A quote by Thomas Jefferson about freedom: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Thomas Jefferson

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it.

Thomas Jefferson

More information about this quote
Topic
Downsides of freedom Freedom

Author

Thomas Jefferson
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1791 1790s 18th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Jefferson, Thomas. Letter to Archibald Stuart. 23 Dec. 1791.

Another quote from the 1780s

Of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist 1

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Read Federalist No. 1 at the Library of Congress website
More information about this quote
Topic
Populism Demagoguery Tyranny Decline of democracy Politics

Author

Alexander Hamilton
Source
Federalist 1 The Federalist Papers
Medium
Essay
Genre
Political literature
Language
English
Time
1787 1780s 18th century
Era
American Revolutionary Period
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Hamilton, Alexander [published as Publius]. "Federalist No. 1: General Introduction." Independent Journal, 27 Oct. 1787.

Current Citation

Hamilton, Alexander. "No. I: Deliberation on a new constitution--Hamilton." The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States, edited by Robert Scigliano. The Modern Library, 2001.

Another quote about Freedom

Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.

Nelson Mandela

More information about this quote
Topic
Freedom Apartheid

Author

Nelson Mandela
Language
English
Time
1985 1980s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Mandela, Nelson. Statement declining offer of freedom. Presented by Zindzi Mandela. 10 Feb. 1985, Jabulani Stadium, Soweto, South Africa, Africa.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Out of the crooked timber of humanity no straight thing was ever made.

Immanuel Kant

More information about this quote
Topic
Imperfection Human nature

Author

Immanuel Kant
Source
Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose
Medium
Essay
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
German
Time
1784 1780s 18th century
Era
Age of Enlightenment
Authentication Score 2
Citation

Kant, Immanuel. "Idee zu einer allgemeinen Geschichte in weltbürgerlicher Absicht [Idea for a Universal History with a Cosmopolitan Purpose]." Berlinische Monatsschrift, Nov. 1784.